Oregon, SW Washington Susan G. Komen affiliate forges ahead, a month after political firestorm
That wasn't enough for many angry supporters of the breast cancer charity, including Jennifer Williamson, a board member who resigned in protest.
"I couldn't stand by and watch the national leadership playing politics with women's health care," says Williamson, a Democratic state House candidate and long-time supporter of Planned Parenthood. She openly criticized the local Komen chapter for being too passive about the national group's foray into abortion politics.
But Williamson rethought her position. Last week, she asked to rejoin the board.
"I'm hoping that I can help be an ambassador to women who feel like the national leadership acted inappropriately," Williamson says.
The local affiliate hopes other angry supporters will return, much like Williamson.
Komen spending
Affiliates keep about three-quarters of the money they raise for local services. In Oregon and Southwest Washington last year that included:
* More than $900,000 on cancer screening and treatment. The Oregon Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, which each year helps about 7,000 low-income, uninsured and medically underserved women , relies on a grant from Komen.
* $3.9 million on education such as teaching immigrants and residents of low-income neighborhoods about screening and prevention, and to tailor outreach to overcome cultural barriers that prevent care; also supports continuing education for physicians, nurses and caregivers.
* $690,000 for research went to headquarters in Texas where scientific reviewers judge research proposals and award grants;
* 2 percent went to administrative overhead;
* 25 percent went to fundraising to develop new donations sources beyond race events.
Dozens of supporters initially vowed to withhold further donations, sounding off on Komen Oregon's Facebook page. Some continue to express doubts.
"While I applaud our local affiliate's rejection of the national Komen stance, I am still not prepared to support the organization," one posted. Others say they won't resume support until the national organization replaces its entire leadership.
Komen has lost other local supporters who oppose abortion. Some weren't aware that Planned Parenthood has received funding from Komen and were angry when Komen resumed funding Planned Parenthood's breast examinations. "I am sure that Planned Parenthood has done some good, but it can never make up for the horror of abortion," one critic commented on Facebook. "I will never support the Koman foundation with anything ever again!"
It so happens Planned Parenthood clinics never sought money from Komen's Oregon and Southwest Washington affiliate. But Williamson says the two organizations have worked together on women's health, for example, advocating for the Oregon Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, which gives uninsured and low-income women diagnosed with those cancers access to medical assistance from the state.
Komen Oregon's board chair, Marta Monetti, says board members agreed unanimously to oppose the national funding decision. The national group adopted a policy against funding any organization under government investigation. Planned Parenthood was the only recipient affected; a Florida congressman, pressed by anti-abortion groups, is investigating whether Planned Parenthood used federal money to pay for abortions.
Monetti says the policy went overboard: "We want to be good stewards of our donors money but we felt that was way too restrictive."
"It seemed ridiculous to us," says Christine McDonald, Komen Oregon's chief executive officer, who is stepping down in April. She says her decision to leave is personal and not related to the controversy. She plans to remain active as a volunteer with Komen Oregon and make herself available as a consultant during transition to a new executive.
Komen Oregon's budget grew from $1.9 million to nearly $10 million during McDonald's seven-year tenure. She says it's too early to know how the Planned Parenthood controversy will affect the bottom line. McDonald says reservations for the group' $55-a-plate Lunch for the Cure in April are on track to equal last year's. Interest in Race for the Cure events, by far the largest fundraisers, will be a bigger test.
Winning back supporters whose trust in Komen has been lost won't be easy, Monetti says.
"I don't think there is any fancy communication effort that's going to address those issues people have. We have to forge ahead with our mission," she says.
